A court in Abuja heard shocking claims from the Department of State Services (DSS) about the activities of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed group, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
According to the DSS official, some ESN members were found eating human flesh. He said this happened during a raid on one of their camps. About seven of them were seen with human heads, and they told the DSS it was for spiritual strength.
The officer shared this during the terrorism trial of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu. The prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), led him in giving evidence. He also mentioned that Kanu had no official license to bring in the radio equipment used for Radio Biafra.
The DSS witness explained that the transmitter Kanu used was made in Germany and required proper approval from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), but Kanu brought it into Nigeria without permission. IPOB members reportedly helped raise funds to buy the equipment.
He also talked about the killing of Ahmed Gulak, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. Gulak was killed in Owerri, Imo State, on May 30, 2021.
Another shocking detail the DSS officer revealed was about a man known as Uzuoma Benjamin, also called Onye Army. He claimed that Kanu ordered the killing of security agents and asked for a late ESN member, Ikonso, to be buried with 2,000 human heads.
The witness read a statement where Onye Army said he and others used the heads of 10 girls to prepare charms for protection.
The officer also said that Kanu used his broadcasts to direct followers to attack and kill security officers. The raid on Owerri prison, for example, was allegedly planned through one of his radio messages.
Even though Kanu wanted 2,000 heads buried with Ikonso, the DSS found that only 30 were gathered. When they tried to find Onye Army for questioning, the police said he had escaped from custody.
The DSS stated that between 170 and 200 security agents had been killed by IPOB and ESN activities in the Southeast. This included two DSS officers, one of them the witness’s own driver.
He said ESN fighters were armed and carried out attacks on the homes of important people, including traditional rulers. When they needed vehicles, they would block roads and hijack cars.
Lastly, he pointed out that the group was behind the destruction of many public buildings, including police stations, across the Southeast.
